Double Bass MXR M80 as a preamp for double bass?

[Oscar South]

I need to buy an overdrive unit for my electric playing and a preamp for my upright playing, I was looking at overdrives and came across the MXR M80: http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=257.

Can anyone think of any reason why that wouldn't work as a preamp and EQ for upright bass also (and I could just leave the distortion circuit alone)? If nobody can I'm going to kill 2 birds with one stone and get a fancier tool for both than I thought I'd be able to originally .

Cheers.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I owned one of these things for awhile and liked it. The 'clean' side of it is a nice preamp that didn't seem to add or color the tone much. It is very nice on slab and the D.I. is good.
However, I only experimented with it on DB and don't even remember what pickup I tried it with (probably an Underwood).
The Fishman Pro Platinum would be a better choice for DB, but it doesn't add the overdrive.

 

[the low one]

Running the clean channel without the color button engaged would be fine for double bass. I imagine you'll run the eq mostly flat and just boost or cut where necessary, it works on my fretless nicely. I would have thought the MXR would perfect for your needs unless you want to spend a lot more money.

 

[Boppingtheory]

Don't you think that there could be compatibility problems (impedance issue) with the signal from a piezo instead from a electromagnetic pickup by using the MXR ?

 

[bolo]

Perhaps. I went to the dunlop web site and even looked at the owner's manual, but I could not find the input impedance listed anywhere.

However it does include a diagram of the stompbox settings used by Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson).

 

[Boppingtheory]

Yeah BOLO. Indeed, not just the example of classic doublebass player with ordinary needs

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I would check out the SansAmp ParaAcoustic DI. It has overdrive sounds for EBG and works as a buffer preamp with EQ for piezo equipped URB.

- Steve

 

[bolo]

I would check out the SansAmp ParaAcoustic DI. It has overdrive sounds for EBG and works as a buffer preamp with EQ for piezo equipped URB.

Actually I think the SansAmp product you're thinking of is called the Para Driver DI.

L.R. Baggs makes a similar type product called the Para Acoustic DI. It does not sport the fake tubes or "overdrive" capability though.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I share the same concern about the impedance.
However, with EBAY, there really isn't much risk.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MXR-M-80-Bass-D...ryZ41411QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Part of finding a 'DB sound' is trying out stuff to see what works.
Although I believe Oscar wants a good tone on DB, he may be willing to trade off a bit for the slab use.

 

[Oscar South]

Bloody hell thats cheap, the lowest i can find one for in england is £125 not including shipping, which is more than double that. The average price seems to be like £180.

 

[bolo]

Part of finding a 'DB sound' is trying out stuff to see what works.
Although I believe Oscar wants a good tone on DB, he may be willing to trade off a bit for the slab use.

Understood. I really like the tone shaping capes of the SansAmp Bass Driver DI for slab. Some DB players use it too. Others seem to like the Para Driver better for DB. And still others like the L.R. Baggs DI. Like you said ... Gotta try 'em yourself and see what turns your crank, and if not, turn 'em loose.

For some reason, I think I was confusing the MXR DI with their Bass Blowtorch. Catchy name anyway.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Understood. I really like the tone shaping capes of the SansAmp Bass Driver DI for slab. Some DB players use it too. Others seem to like the Para Driver better for DB. And still others like the L.R. Baggs DI. Like you said ... Gotta try 'em yourself and see what turns your crank, and if not, turn 'em loose.

For some reason, I think I was confusing the MXR DI with their Bass Blowtorch. Catchy name anyway.

The M-80 is a nice little box with a fairly transparent preamp. I was very happy with the thing, but I have been on a simplification crusade lately. The only extra box I ever use is a Boss tuner and then, only on slab.
I've not tried a SansAmp stompbox, but in a side by side comparison I thought the MXR sounded a little cleaner than a SansAmp RBI. The one thing I didn't like about the MXR was the overdrive. I found it difficult to get a mild crunch. It gave me all or nothing.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Sorry Oscar. I didn't see that the EBAY unit only ships to the U.S..

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Actually I think the SansAmp product you're thinking of is called the Para Driver DI.

L.R. Baggs makes a similar type product called the Para Acoustic DI. It does not sport the fake tubes or "overdrive" capability though.

Yeah, I got it confused with the L.R. Baggs preamp. I mentioned the SansAmp because the original poster wanted a preamp that would work with an upright bass and also provide overdrive sounds for electric bass. I have the older SansAmp Acoustic DI which does not have the Overdrive feature.

- Steve

 

[Oscar South]

Thanks for all the help.

I looked at the Sansamp but I like the MXR more because the sansamp doesn't have a separate overdrive channel (for use with electric bass obviously), I'd have to re-adjust the dials every time I wanted to turn it on or off whereas on the MXR I can just set it up how I like it with the levels set right and click it on or off at will. Also the programmable version of the sansamp is more expensive and has sound-cuts when changing preset, so it wouldn't be as suitable for changing mid song.